CINCINNATI – USA Baseball released its 60-man preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list on Friday, selecting University of Cincinnati baseball sophomore Ian Happ. The preseason watch list launches the organization’s journey to naming the top amateur baseball player in the country on July 17.

The list will be a “rolling list” until May 27, ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the collegiate and high school seasons.

A 50-man midseason watch list will be released on April 10 and a 30-man watch list on May 8. The award’s semifinalists will be announced on May 27 with finalists announced on June 3 and the Golden Spikes Award presentation on July 17.

Happ, a 2013 Freshman All-America selection, started all 56 games for the Bearcats during his freshman campaign. He led the team with 41 runs scored, 13 doubles, six homeruns and 47 walks. He recorded a team-high .322 batting average, a .483 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage.

The sophomore was one of only two players named to the watch list from the American Athletic Conference.